City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare-Review

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 5/5 Stars

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (2014)

Length: 725 pgs

Series: The Mortal Instruments #6

Format: Hardcover, purchased Barnes & Noble (online)

Goodreads Synopsis: In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary’s own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris – but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee – even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned…

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

This review was actually really hard for me to write, because I’ve been a fan of the original Shadowhunter series for many years and it’s hard to witness the end of a beloved series. I’ve let it settle for about a week and I’ve realized that I was really impressed by Clare’s last installment, not just because it’s the resolution of The Mortal Instruments series, but because it addresses the notion of war- and its repercussions- in a realistic and multi-facted way, and true to the endings of real wars, not everything is cleanly wrapped up in a unanimous resolution at the end of the novel.

Firstly and fore-mostly, it’s important to mention that CoHF is the book where Clare really ties all of the threads from all three of her series together (The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, and The Dark Artifices). Readers are introduced to Shadowhunter families that had been mentioned in other generations, such as the Blackthorns and the Carstairs, and the conflicts among and between the Shadowhunters themselves and between Nephilim and demons are cross-generational, and if you’ve read Clare’s other series it all comes together beautifully.

The Shadowhunter’s Codex by Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis- Mini Review

The Shadowhunter’s Codex by Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

Publisher: Simon & Schuster  (October 2013)

Length: 274 pgs

Format: Hardcover, purchased from Target

Synopsis: The Shadownhunter’s Codex is a companion text to The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series written by Cassandra Clare and set in the fantasy universe of the Shadowhunters’. The Codex itself is referenced in these series as the guide by which all Shadowhunters must abide by, containing the rules and regulations as written by the Clave. Throughout the book, notations made by primary characters Clary Fairchild, Jace Herondale/Wayland/Lightwood, and Simon Lewis.

My Review: Reading this companion text to Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter series was so much fun. I’m a huge fan of the intricate fantasy world she’s built and being able to read one of the primary texts that’s referenced so often was a great way to learn more of how things work (because I’m one of those readers who’s always asking “How is that possible? How did that happen? Why do they do that?”) and a great refresher before I read City of Heavenly Fire, seeing as I didn’t have time to re-read series (which was oh-my-goodness-intense and which I will post a review for as soon as I am able to process everything that happened!) This book is very similar in format to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages which JK Rowling wrote as companion texts for the Harry Potter series, complete with the character’s own snarky comments and personal sidebars.

What I really loved about this book was that it showcases the intricacy of Clare’s research into creating her universe, especially from a religious point of view. She pulls from many religious traditions and even addresses the role of religion and cultural backgrounds in the Shadowhunter world, taking a pluralistic view in which diversity is accepted and no one tradition or country is superior to others. There are also some truly beautiful illustrations from both series throughout the book (which I assume are supposed to be Clary’s work, as it’s her Codex copy) as well as inside the front and back covers. The Codex even includes illustrations of the specific runes used in the series and oaths, passwords, and nursery rhymes taught to Shadowhunter children. The intricacy of it was fantastic and it gave me so much more of an appreciation for the series.

Are you a fan of the Shadowhunter series? What are your opinions on companion texts? Let me know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a fun weekly feature hosted by the fantastic blog The Broke and the Bookish. This week the topic is: Top Ten Favorite Books in X (your pick!) Genre. Since this is my first Top Ten Tuesday, I decided to stick with my preferred genre of YA, specifically YA fiction.

Top Ten Favorite Books in YA Fiction:

1) Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout- This is probably my all time favorite YA paranormal series, and it doesn’t get the hype it deserves. It features aliens, a book blogger, one of my favorite fictional guys, and doesn’t censor out the realities of teenage life.

2) Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick– I have a weakness for angel mythology, and I love love love Jev in this book. It’s not the perfect series, but it’s definitely my guilty pleasure. I also get to see one of my favorite fictional couples fall in love again. Add that with angel/nephilim warfare and I’m hooked.

3) The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot- Nearly nothing like the movie and written with unbelievable wit, this book was my first transition from children’s to YA books (in 4th grade no less) and with all of the pop culture references, I get something new out of it with each reread.

4) City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare- I don’t care that Cassandra Clare keeps writing within her same fantasy world- I could indulge in the Shadowhunter realm forever. And the tension between Jace, Clary, and Sebastian is creepy, addicting, and will keep you reading straight through the night.

5) Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore- A recent read with a throwback vibe to the old school mysteries of Nancy Drew and Scooby Doo. With the much neglected witches in YA paranormal fiction and a vivid southern atmosphere, this was my first five-star read of 2014. Read my review here.

6) The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashers- Another oldie but goodie. One of my first YA novels, Brashers doesn’t shy away from dealing with tough issues in her series. I used to revisit this book on the first day of summer break every year until college.

7) City of Masks (Stavaganza #1) by Mary Hoffman- I feel like this series hovers somewhere between children and YA, and I have never read anyone else who has read it, but it’s seriously amazing, filled with world/time travel, a parallel world Renaissance Italy, a city-state led by a teenage girl Duchessa, and courtly intrigue. What more could you ask for?

8) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky- Although I didn’t read it until I was in college, this novel is a YA classic for a reason, and the narrator’s heartbreaking honest and rawness will keep it relevant through the test of time. Read my review here.

9) A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray– I read this book so long ago I could definitely use a refresher, but the gothic victorian atmosphere coupled with Bray’s elegant writing style has stuck with me. I’m sad to say I have yet to finish the series, and a reread is definitely in order for this summer. Bray’s writing is sophisticated, complex, and doesn’t feel targeted to thirteen-year-olds.

10) Siege and Storm (Grisha #2) by Leah Bardugo– I just finished this book 48 hours ago and I cannot get it out of my head. The colors, the science, the political intrigue! You know a text is good if it leaves you with a book hangover. Read my review here.

And there you have it! Forgive me for posting an hour early- it’s almost midnight and I couldn’t resist!